Whatcom County Affordable Housing Council: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.205(5) & WAC 390-16-011A for failure to include sponsor (BIAWC) in registered committee name. (EY '19 Sep '19)

Case

#57738

Respondent

Whatcom County Affordable Housing Council sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County

Complainant

Sandra Robson

Description

On September 18, 2019, the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) received a complaint alleging the Whatcom County Affordable Housing Council, may have violated RCW 42.17A.205(5) and WAC 390-16-011A for failure to include sponsor in the committee's name.

PDC staff reviewed the allegation; the applicable statute/rule and the reporting requirement; the applicable PDC reports filed by the Whatcom County Affordable Housing Council (Committee); and reviewed their date in the PDC database, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

Staff's review of the Committee's Monetary Contribution reports (C-3 reports) and the Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports) found the Committee received more than 80% of its contributions from the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County (BIAWC), making the BIAWC a sponsor.

On October 2, 2019, the Committee amended its C-1pc and changed the Committee's name to "Whatcom County Affordable Housing Council sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County."

Based on these findings, staff determined that, in this instance, failure to include the sponsor name in the name of the committee is a violation that does not warrant further investigation or enforcement action. The Committee made a good faith effort by responding quickly and amending its Committee Registration to reflect BIAWC as the sponsor of the Committee.

However, staff reminded the Whatcom County Affordable Housing Council about the importance of including the name of the sponsor in the Committee's name in the future.

Based on this information, the PDC dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

September 24, 2019

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.205, WAC 390-16-011